Woke up at the hotel 8.41. Quick shower and was ready for the ride. Last night had a pasta bolognese and was tired after the train ride slept like a baby.

First km up qnd up. Just slowly. Got to Montluel popped in to the tourist office. Got the map for the day.

The first part of the day was good nice scenery but the real thing started after the lunch in Pont d’Ain.

I was seeing these big hills ahead of me all the morning and then I was there. On the doorstep.

Slowly going up I got to the memorial I saw on one of the stages of the tour the France this year. I was on the way. Some good and slow going up to Labalme. I did see these places on the TV a few days ago.

Arrived to Port and there was a campsite. Quick set up. Trip to intermarche. Cooked some nice dinner and now chilling.

After a good nights sleep I was up around 8.30. Had some cooked breakfast. Today scrambled eggs and mushrooms with tomatoes radishes and some nice coffee. Was out of the camp after 10. The first part of the trip to Oyonnax was fairly straightforward. Before I new it I was searching for the tourist office. It took a while. I passed by maybe 3 times before noticing it. Got some maps and set off. My idea was to go to Saint Claude. Never got there. Decided to take a different route to the lakes. Had to cycle around the place where I am staying now. Off course I missed couple of turns and before I new it I was cycling up the hill that was featured in the tour the France.

There was a local ride today so there were many people waiting for the pros. I was the forerunner. Got a few allez, allez and courage, courage. Good fun. They didn’t expect a bulky man coming at the head of the peloton. So I think I won the polka dot points on this one. The hill took me up to Viry. From there there was a very dodgy descent into Molinges. Then google took me through a country road totally unpaved and so on. In the first place I saw a normal road I took it. And there was the second big uphill of the day. Again featured in the tour. Really long and grueling to Vilards-d’Heria.

Then it was a straight trip to Clairvaux. The tourist office told me it can be difficult to get a place today. First camp was busy. Could stay for one night but… I went to the second and they are loads of places here. Only 13.70 for the night so might stay here and travel around. On Monday big day here as well. The ascension. Most of the places will be closed for the day as well.

Got some provisions and cycling maps from the tourist office. Set for the night.

According to the description of the route on maps total elevation gained was 951 mtrs. So 100+ meters difference between the two. The little barometer on the cycle computer isn’t too bad.

The first route was the 13 and it starts slowly and nicely for about 3 km. Then the ascent starts. 10 km of constant uphill to reach Col de la Joux. Going up to 1035 mtrs. The route goes through beautiful pine woodlands. It was very hot today so the smell of the pine tree was very present. Such special feel. On the way down I met the turn to route 14. I had a look at the map and it was marked as easy So I decided to go through this as well. Beautiful landscapes all the way. Reminded me of the polish Bieszczady.

Loads of cows with bells. Then back to the route 13 and finished at the camp.

Not having to carry my panniers made a huge difference, although the heat was a very important factor today.

Went to the shop to get something to eat. Bike’s computer showed 35C.

Day 12

14 August 2016

Clairvaux-les-Lacs – Routes A and 12. Plus 4 runs between Collondon and Charcier

After last evening’s disaster this morning it was only the baguette and some saucisson and double melted cheese; nothing else was saved from the boiling temperature in the porch of the tent. So coffee and a great sandwich. Packed all my liquids under a bush and set off for the trip just before 10am. It was hot, very hot already.

Fortunately most of the route had some good bits of shade to have a rest or lunch.

Although both routes are marked as easy there was fair bit of uphill today. In fact my bike computer showed 100 more mtrs today than yesterday. Both routes A – Riviere d’Ain and 12 – tour des lacs are great cycling places offering passes through woodlands, lakes, beautiful river and waterfalls.

Cascades du Herisson – I decided to have a look in the morning when I was preparing today’s route. Got there and wow… I guess due to hot weather and no downpour in the area, rather than a water I saw a trickle. I think in a different time of the year it can be very exciting.

On the way back checked the temperature. 39C. Just now 7.15 pm it was still 38C. Really warm and cozy. Now – 7.45 pm in the shade it is 27C.

Last day cycling around this beautiful area of France. Decided to visit the dam on the huge lake Vouglans. Third in size of the retention lakes in France. The whole scenery was just wonderful all day long. And although I had to go up and down quite a lot thoroughly enjoyable.

I realised that squirrels in this part of France are not really red. I haven’t seen one jumping in the woods yet but witnessed a fresh road kill. The hair towards the root is red but it goes black towards the ends. Which makes it a red black squirrel with beautiful white belly… And a bushy tail. Red black as well.

Just a few uphills today. Set of at 10.15 from the camp after breakfast and packing. 4 nights in the same place was far too long. Itchy feet – Must be a soul of the traveler.

Correction – the squirrel’s tail was actually black. Saw a few samples today. Another interesting : marten and water vole.

Coming down from mountains was very quick. A steep descent 15% + to Lons-le-Saunier and that was it. Then the route went through a wetland section. All the water coming from hills. Then it was a rolling hills and a fairly straight road all the way to the camp. 30 km or so from Dijon.

I will surprise myself tomorrow with the route and next stop.

After a few day of living in the weather I realised that there was no wind. Had some stronger blasts on the road. Some like when you open the oven and the whole hit air hits you. That was the sensation. In the campsite again totally still. Nothing. Temperature dropping very slowly. It is 8 pm and still 27C.

Camp on the edge of the river Saône. Even the river is lazy flowing very slowly. A few boats mooring as well.

Path along the canal mostly dirt, dust and some coarse stones for about 20 or so km. Exciting as different and bike did really well. Last 8km and then through Dijon finally there was a proper cycling path. Got to the camp before 11 stopping for breakfast and coffee on one of the benches by the canal. Before 1 I was out of the camp and going to visit Dijon. Loads of galleries and museums opened for free for tourists. Went to a musee des beaux art – medieval art, Palais de etats – photography Jonas Jacquel, we consortium Wade Guyton and Laure Prouvost, musee archeologique.

Culturally nurtured went for a lunch in Darcy gardens (Loads of people playing Pokemon Go) and then to Notre Dame and finally intermarche.

Woke up this morning to the rhythm of the breakfast being prepared next door at 6.15 am. Looked out of the tent and the sky was blue. Beautiful morning. 10 minutes later there was a massive thunderstorm. It lasted about an hour. Very heavy. Loads of lightnings and thunders very close to the camp. Then it started stopping just slowly and by 9 I was thinking breakfast or packing up. By the time I made my mind up it started raining again. Gathered all my stuff into panniers inside the tent and when the rain stopped again I got going and was out of the camp at 10.15.

Checked Google Maps yesterday and it told me that the route was mostly flat. Thanks god I got a proper map and knew it was going to be a tough day in the saddle.

Beautiful route along the lake Kir in Dijon and then through a 10 km uphill to Sombernon. It was very long hill and tarmac very slow.

Trip from Sombernon to Vitteaux went quickly. Loads of hills, sharp Some Of them but in between nice bits of straight road.

Loads of main roads are now rather empty as the main traffic moved to motorways. I could see towns and villages rather empty as the traffic is going somewhere else.

On the D70 there was a cycle path all the way. Unfortunately one of the bridges was closed so I had to go up to Episodes to enter Avallon. The last bit of the trip took me to the Morvan – Natural Parc. The camp is in the most picturesque place. Call it a creek or a canyon. The only people on the camp are Dutch.

It was pizza for supper.

Tent was drying nicely so at 7 it was set and ready to be slept in again.

Before had my breakfast and a coffee. Had to wait for the tent to dry. Huge condensation. Slow morning so set off about 10.45.

Came back to the camp and then followed through with the trip. The first part to Auxerre didn’t disappoint. First some hills and then really good trip along the canal nearly to Auxerre. I thought that the Bourgogne canal would have been used as much as this one. Canal Nivernais. Loads of riverboat traffic. Few snack places along the canal. I had a burger. Really nice home made.

Auxerre really is all about football. Great infrastructure, new buildings. Old town itself quite abandoned. After a visit to the old part I decided to follow through to Joigny. Google Maps was showing an alternative route along the main one. There was none. So the first few km were a bit hairy but then it got more like a usual traffic.

Joigny again very nice town placed on the river Yonne. Enjoyed cycling along this one today before Auxerre.

Camping OK. French mainly. Few cyclists arrived just after 9 pm. French as well.

The weekend is gone. Most of the people left the camp. What a tree. Very odd after 3 night screaming baby. Not that little Sarah wasn’t cute but she was up at 6.30 every morning screaming her head out. Nobody next to my pitch. Great.

Had a great day of cycling today. Even though my right knee was playing up and the bike developed some strange clicking noise.